Author: Rasmita Jena

  • Musk’s Ultimatum Causes Resignations and Job Fears in Government

    Musk’s Ultimatum Causes Resignations and Job Fears in Government

    On Tuesday, federal workers found themselves in a tricky situation after Elon Musk gave them a new chance to explain their jobs. He warned that if they couldn’t justify their roles, they might lose their jobs. This message confused many workers because previous guidance said responding was optional.

    Some workers, who had enough of the uncertainty, chose to leave their jobs. Twenty-one employees from Musk’s newly renamed Department of Government Efficiency (originally the U.S. Digital Service) quit in protest. They felt it was wrong to use their tech skills to cut important government services.

    Musk sent an email to all workers asking them to summarize what they did in the past week, but as the deadline approached, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) told workers they didn’t have to respond. Musk, however, responded by saying that ignoring the email would count as quitting. He later said workers would get another chance to reply, and if they didn’t, they might face termination.

    Even within the Trump administration, there was confusion about what to do. Some department heads encouraged workers to wait before replying, while others pushed them to respond. The White House press secretary insisted everyone was working together, even though reports suggested that there were disagreements among Trump loyalists.

    As the chaos continued, the OPM planned to cut down its staff, reducing the number from 64 to just under a dozen people. Musk’s efforts to cut jobs extended beyond OPM; more than 20,000 workers have already lost their jobs, with many more likely facing layoffs.

    The IRS was also warned to prepare for more job cuts soon. Musk’s close advisor even told IRS leaders that he believed fewer employees would be enough to carry out the agency’s tasks. The Department of Interior received orders to reduce its workforce by as much as 40%. The situation is creating a lot of stress for federal workers, emphasizing the real possibility of widespread layoffs across various agencies.

  • West Bengal in Turmoil: Woman’s Death Sparks Political Blame Game

    West Bengal in Turmoil: Woman’s Death Sparks Political Blame Game

    A serious argument erupted between West Bengal’s ruling party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and the main opposition party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This happened after a woman died when her car flipped over. She was reportedly being chased by a group of men in another car in Paschim Bardhaman district.

    Union minister Sukanta Majumdar, who is also a BJP MP, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of making West Bengal unsafe for women. He stated, “Every day, terrible crimes happen against women, and the government does nothing to help!” He criticized Banerjee for promising to protect women but claimed that under her government, women are harmed instead.

    In response, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh released a video. He said that the police believe this incident was just a traffic accident and denied that the woman was being harassed. He warned that false information is being spread about the woman’s death.

    The woman, who was just 27 years old and worked in management, died in what police are calling a “road accident.” According to police investigations, she was actually trying to overtake another vehicle when the crash occurred. However, her grieving mother raised concerns about the police investigation, saying they aren’t doing enough to find the people in the other car.

    The woman was traveling to a function in Gaya, Bihar, with three of her coworkers. Police have taken both cars involved in the incident and are currently investigating the case.

  • UP Board Exams Begin: Over 54 Lakh Students Take Tests

    UP Board Exams Begin: Over 54 Lakh Students Take Tests

    The Uttar Pradesh Board exams for class 10 and 12 started on Monday with over 54 lakh students taking part. The exams will run for 13 days and finish on March 12. This year, around 27 lakh students are taking the class 10 exams, and 27 lakh are in class 12.

    On the first day, class 10 students took their Hindi and Elementary Hindi tests in the morning. Class 12 students took their military science exam. In the afternoon, class 10 students will take the healthcare exam, while class 12 students will answer questions in Hindi and General Hindi.

    To keep the exams fair, the Special Task Force (STF) and local intelligence teams are watching over the exam centers. Each room has two CCTV cameras with voice recorders. There are 306 centers across 17 districts that are labeled as “highly sensitive.”

    Gulab Devi, the Minister of State for Secondary Education, began the first shift at Jubilee Inter College in Lucknow. She welcomed the students with a ‘tilak’ on their foreheads and gave them sweets to wish them luck. She said she hopes all students do their best and achieve good grades. She added that these exams are not just about grades but also about building a bright future for the students.

    In Prayagraj, UP Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh checked the Control and Command Center to ensure everything is running smoothly during the exams.

  • Rajinikanth Honors Jayalalithaa on Her 77th Birthday in Heartfelt Tribute

    Rajinikanth Honors Jayalalithaa on Her 77th Birthday in Heartfelt Tribute

    On the celebration of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s 77th birthday, famous actor Rajinikanth honored her memory at her home in Poes Garden, Chennai. He placed flowers in front of her picture during a special ceremony attended by her niece, Deepa Madhavan, and former AIADMK leader Phugalendhi. Rajinikanth, speaking to the press afterward, said, “Even though she is no longer with us, her memories will stay forever.”

    Jayalalithaa, known as “Amma” by the people of Tamil Nadu, was a powerful leader who served as Chief Minister for three terms: from 1991 to 1996, 2002 to 2006, and 2011 to 2014. People loved and respected her for her work to help improve the lives of many, especially the poor. Before she became a politician, Jayalalithaa was a successful actress who starred in over 130 films.

    She joined the AIADMK party in 1982 and quickly became important in the party, serving as its propaganda secretary in 1983. Over her political career, she was a member of the Indian Parliament and later on the state legislative assembly.

    Jayalalithaa faced many tough times in her life, including going to jail. In 1996, she was arrested for one month after her house was raided and valuable items were taken. In 1998, she formed an alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), but they later parted ways. In 2014, she was found guilty of corruption, which caused her to resign as Chief Minister, allowing O Panneerselvam to take over temporarily.

  • Controversial Highway Punishment: Mother Sparks Debate on Parenting Methods

    Controversial Highway Punishment: Mother Sparks Debate on Parenting Methods

    A mother in China caused a stir after she stopped her car on a busy highway to punish her young son for being bad. This happened in Zhengzhou, Henan province, in February, and it was caught on video that quickly spread online, starting a big discussion about how parents should discipline their kids.

    The mother, named Zhang, pulled over to the side after her son, who is about eight years old, had a meltdown and said he wanted to jump out of the car. In the video, you can see her forcing him out of the car and using a tree branch to hit him while holding onto his coat so he couldn’t run away. The boy was crying during the punishment.

    Zhang explained her actions, saying, “Talking didn’t work. His behavior made it hard for me to drive safely. I knew I could get a fine for stopping the car there, but I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to teach him a lesson right away.”

    In China, stopping in the emergency lane for no good reason can result in a fine of 200 yuan (around $27) and points taken off the driver’s license.

    Zhang also mentioned that in her home, other adults should not interfere when a parent is disciplining a child. That’s why the person filming the video didn’t step in.

    Later, Zhang shared another video on February 18, where her son admitted he was wrong. “I realize it is very dangerous to jump out of a moving car on the highway. I was wrong. I hope other kids don’t do this,” he said.

    The video got a lot of attention and reached five million views on a major social media site. People had mixed reactions. Some defended Zhang, saying they understood her after learning more about the situation. One comment said, “At first, I thought she was acting crazy, but now I support her.” Others disagreed, warning that it was still unsafe to hit a child on the road, saying, “What if he ran into the street? It would be better to wait until you get home.”

  • Tunnel Collapse in Telangana: Rescue Efforts and Slim Survival Hopes

    Tunnel Collapse in Telangana: Rescue Efforts and Slim Survival Hopes

    A serious accident has happened in Telangana, where a tunnel for the SLBC project has collapsed. The local minister, J. Krishna Rao, shared that rescue teams tried calling out the names of eight workers trapped inside but didn’t hear any replies. He mentioned that the chances of anyone surviving are “very, very remote.”

    When he visited the site, he found that thick mud has piled up in the collapsed area of the tunnel. Although the tunnel is large, about 9 meters wide, nearly 30 feet of mud has blocked most of it. “When we shouted their names, there was no answer, so there seems to be no hope,” he said.

    Rescue efforts are being led by a special team of “rat miners,” who successfully saved workers trapped in a similar incident in Uttarakhand earlier this year. However, the conditions inside the tunnel are difficult, and it may take rescuers three to four days to reach the trapped workers because of all the mud and debris.

    The teams are also trying to pump oxygen inside the tunnel and remove water. The minister expressed concerns about how the trapped workers can breathe, as the air supply seems limited. The Indian Army, along with other rescue teams, has been helping since Saturday. Sadly, those trapped have been identified as individuals from different states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

  • Adani Group to Invest ₹1.10 Lakh Crore, Creating 1.2 Lakh Jobs in MP

    Adani Group to Invest ₹1.10 Lakh Crore, Creating 1.2 Lakh Jobs in MP

    On Monday, Gautam Adani, the chairman of the Adani Group, announced that they will invest over ₹1.10 lakh crore (₹1.10 trillion) in Madhya Pradesh. This investment will create more than 1.2 lakh jobs (1.2 hundred thousand) in the state by 2030. He shared this exciting news at the MP Global Investors Summit 2025.

    Adani mentioned that the Group is also discussing projects like a brand-new smart city, an airport, and a coal-gasification project, which could involve an extra investment of ₹1,00,000 crore (₹1 trillion).

    “Our plans are not just about money,” Adani said. “They are about making Madhya Pradesh a top place for job opportunities and economic growth.” He noted that the Group has already invested over ₹50,000 crore in areas like energy, infrastructure, and agriculture, creating 25,000 jobs so far.

    Adani also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for changing India, saying that under his leadership, India is not just following global trends but is now setting them. He credited the state’s government for making Madhya Pradesh one of the best places to invest, with a projected state GDP of over ₹15 lakh crore (₹15 trillion) in the coming years.

    According to Adani, making a state great isn’t just about building roads and bridges; it’s about creating endless opportunities.

  • Rohit Sharma: Fastest ODI Opener to 9,000 Runs!

    Rohit Sharma: Fastest ODI Opener to 9,000 Runs!

    During the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 match against Pakistan in Dubai, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma made history. He became the fastest opening batter in One Day Internationals (ODIs) to reach 9,000 runs. Rohit, who is 37 years old, achieved this milestone when he scored his first run in the match.

    With this single run, Rohit joined an exclusive group of just six openers who have scored over 9,000 runs in ODIs, including legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Chris Gayle. Rohit is now the fastest among them, achieving the 9,000-run mark in just 181 innings. Previously, Sachin Tendulkar held the record, reaching this milestone in 197 innings.

    In the match against Pakistan, Rohit scored 20 runs off 15 balls but was out when bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi with a fast yorker.

    Rohit has more than 11,000 runs in ODIs, making him one of the best players ever. He reached this 11,000-run mark in 261 innings, the second-fastest after his teammate Virat Kohli. Rohit has broken records before, becoming the fastest opener to 8,000 runs in ODIs in 2023.

    Overall, Rohit has over 15,000 runs as an opener in all types of cricket, ranking him seventh on the all-time list. He has hit 44 centuries, just behind David Warner and Sachin Tendulkar.

    In this match against Pakistan, Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring 241 runs. Kuldeep Yadav stood out for India, taking three wickets to help dismiss Pakistan.

  • Odisha High Court: Women’s Rights to Choice and Control in Relationships

    Odisha High Court: Women’s Rights to Choice and Control in Relationships

    The Odisha High Court recently raised important questions about the idea of making it a crime for someone to have sex by promising to marry the other person. The judge, Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi, explained that thinking a woman only has sex with a man to get married is an old-fashioned, “patriarchal” idea.

    The case involved a man who was accused of being intimate with a woman for over nine years while claiming he would marry her. The judge argued that sex should not automatically mean a promise of marriage. He emphasized that women have the right to make their own choices about their bodies and relationships.

    Justice Panigrahi made it clear that marriage should be a choice made by two people and recognized by law, not just a reward for having sex. He referenced the famous philosopher Simone de Beauvoir to support his point that women should control their own bodies and the choices around them.

    In his comments, the judge stressed that the law should not assume that a woman engages in sexual activities only because she plans to marry. He said this way of thinking is outdated and keeps women from making their own decisions about their love lives. He pointed out that sometimes, women might agree to things not because they really want to, but due to social pressures they feel.

    The judge called for changing these traditional beliefs to acknowledge that women have the right to make their own choices. He stated, “If the law wants to be fair, it needs to change, recognizing that a woman’s body, choices, and future belong solely to her.”

  • Mehbooba Mufti Critiques J&K Assembly Speaker’s ‘Censorship’ Approach

    Mehbooba Mufti Critiques J&K Assembly Speaker’s ‘Censorship’ Approach

    PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti accused the speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, of acting like he is enforcing “martial law” while he should be protecting the rights of assembly members. Mufti made her comments on social media platform X after Rather expressed his unhappiness about the “unwanted publicity” around notices that lawmakers have shared about what they want to discuss in the assembly.

    Rather stated that this kind of publicity might break the rules and asked members to stop doing it. However, Mehbooba Mufti argued that his job as Speaker is to ensure that the rights of all lawmakers are respected and not to censor them. She believes that keeping the public informed about what happens in the assembly is important and should not be viewed as against the rules.

    Mufti pointed out that many important bills, like the recent Waqf bill, have been discussed openly for months. She said that sharing information about meetings and votes in advance helps to hold lawmakers accountable. She criticized Rather, saying it feels like he is enforcing “martial law” in a role that should be constitutional. The new budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly starts on March 3.